A mystery is a puzzle that needs solving. There are many types of mysteries. They range from simple little "cozies" to blood curdling "thrillers."

A good mystery will grab the reader's attention at the very beginning and hang onto to it until the very end. I'm not saying the whole story has to be filled with mystery and intrigue, but there has to be something happening that will hold the reader's interest. Actually, this applies to every type of story. After all, why would anyone continue to read any kind of story if it wasn't interesting?

Many mysteries elicit a large range of both physical and emotional responses. To grab your reader's attention and draw them into the story, you should try to use descriptions that will invoke a response from all of their senses.

I enjoy a large variety of mysteries. I don't get much chance to read anymore, because I'm usually busy on my computer, but I have a TV beside my desk, so I watch/listen to many mysteries. I like cozies such as: Matlock, and Murder She Wrote, but I also enjoy the real adrenalin pumpers like, The Hillside Strangler.

I find that in many of the cozies you know right from the start: what was done, who did it, and where, when, why, and how they did it. Most of the actual story lies in proving all of these things.